Franklin County 911 Projects May Cost $92,254

The county commission Tuesday took under advisement bids for three 911 communication projects.

One project would install a microwave network to replace unreliable copper wire circuits buried in the ground, said Vince Zagarri, the county’s 911 director.

The only bid was from A&W Communications, Eolia, which offered a price of $62,178.

The county currently leases the circuits from AT&T for $10,000 to $12,000 per month, Zagarri said. The savings the county will get from switching to a microwave system should cover the cost of the project within six months, he said. The circuits that will be replaced with the microwave system are in the areas of Gerald, Sullivan, St. Clair and New Haven.

Another project would put backup generators at remote radio tower sites in Lonedell and Gerald.

There were two bids submitted for this project — one from BOCO Electric of Union for $18,400 and another from CASCO Electric of Beaufort, $16,576. Both of those cover the cost of two generators.

Those radio towers are susceptible to power outages in heavy storms, Zagarri said, adding that the generators will provide a backup power supply.

The third project would involve installing an “uninterruptable” power supply at the sheriff’s office emergency dispatch center.

The bid for this project came in at $13,500, and it was from BOCO Electric.

Zagarri said the sheriff’s office dispatch center now has about 12 small power supply sources, and this project would make operations more efficient by having one.

The power supply sources at the dispatch center now are more than 5 years old, and they are becoming unreliable, he added.

All of the projects may be done by the end of October.

Presiding County Commissioner John Griesheimer said the county is continually trying to improve its 911 system, and these projects will help out the sheriff’s office.